Time without tech for Yukon film

What started as a desire for an adventure to mute daily distractions and focus on family has evolved into a powerful documentary, evoking emotions from reviewers and audiences around the world.

“There’s been a tremendous response to the film and it was unexpected. I didn’t realize it would speak to people like it has,” said Yukon filmmaker Suzanne Crocker.

Speaking over Skype from South Africa, she’s half a world away from the cabin where she and her young family of five spent nine months living off the grid, completely isolated to face the challenges of the northern winter without any modern technology.

The result was the award winning film, All the Time in World, filled with universal themes of family, nature and rediscovering what’s important. The documentary is screening in Sun Peaks on August 9, during the Midnight Sun Art & Film Festival, along with a Q & A session with Crocker.

Currently travelling to share her cinematic story, Crocker said no matter what continent she’s on, the reaction is strikingly akin.

“It seems that regardless of the culture and age of the audience the reaction is really similar. The same themes speak equally to people living all over the world. It’s about the importance of family and connecting on a real time basis instead of digitally, and simplifying your way of living.”

Crocker was also surprised to find her work resonated with younger people, despite their generational embrace of technology. Youth juries have chosen the film for several awards including Second Place for Best Documentary at Europe’s largest film festival for youth, the Giffoni International Film Festival in Italy, and Best Picture at the Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth in Vancouver, B.C. The vast majority of the film’s awards were audience chosen which Crocker said she finds particularly heartwarming.

She pointed out the film doesn’t tell people what to think, but many find it reaffirms what they are already feeling.

“Obviously not everyone is going to quit their job and move out to the bush, but the aspects of slowing down, simplifying and unplugging resonate with people.

“It’s about recognizing the ironies in our lives. We have the Internet that connects us to people around the world but can actually disconnect us from the people around us. We also have all these time saving conveniences but we now find ourselves with less and less time.”

Crocker said the film also demonstrates the grounding effect spending time in nature has and expects many Sun Peaks residents to relate to the film on that level.

“Being outside helps your priorities fall into place and the chaos leave you. We all know this, but we do forget.”

While Crocker said she is already thinking of other projects, filming her family was a one-time experience.

“They loved living in the bush and it was an amazing time for us as a family,” she said. “I think they tolerate the film and find people’s reactions interesting, but they feel no ownership.”

Check out the trailer online here.